Natural disasters and other calamities can affect any company at any time. Depending on the type of business and its financial stability, a few weeks or months of lost income can leave it struggling to turn a profit indefinitely or even force ownership to sell or close. One way to guard against this predicament is through the purchase of business interruption insurance.

The difference

You might say, “But wait! We already have commercial property insurance. Does that not typically pay the costs of a disaster-related disruption?” Not exactly. Your policy may cover some of the individual repairs involved, but it will not keep you operational.

Business interruption coverage allows you to relocate or temporarily close so you can make the necessary repairs. Essentially, the policy will provide the cash flow to cover revenues lost and expenses incurred while your normal operations are suspended.

Two types of coverage

Generally, business interruption insurance is not sold as a separate policy. Instead, it is added to your existing property coverage. There are two basic types of coverage:

1. Named perils policies. Only specific occurrences listed in the policy are covered, such as fire, water, damage, and vandalism.
2. All-risk policies. All disasters are covered unless specifically excluded. Many all-risk policies exclude damage from earthquakes and floods, but such coverage can generally be added for an additional fee.

Business interruption insurance usually pays for income that is lost while operations are suspended. It also covers continuing expenses, including salaries, related payroll costs, and other amounts required to restart a business. Depending on the policy, additional expenses might include:

• Relocation to a temporary building (or permanent relocation if necessary)
• Replacement of inventory, machinery, and parts
• Overtime wages to make up for lost production time
• Advertising stating that your business is still operating

Business interruption coverage that insures you against 100 percent of losses can be costly. Therefore, more common are policies that cover 80% of losses while the business shoulders the remaining 20%.

Pros & cons

As good as business interruption coverage may sound, your company might not need it if you operate in an area where major natural disasters are uncommon and your other business interruption risks are minimal. The decision on whether to buy warrants careful consideration.

First consult with your insurance agent about business interruption coverage options that could be added to your current property coverage. If you are still interested, perhaps convene a meeting involving your agent, management team, and other professional advisors to brainstorm worst-case scenarios and ask ‘what if’ questions. After all, you do not want to overinsure, but you also do not want to underemphasize risk management.

Potential value

Proper insurance coverage is essential for every company. Let us help you run the numbers and assess the potential value of a business interruption policy.